Video: Police Chase Suspect Fights Cop While Holding the Unthinkable

Police officers often face situations that are difficult or even impossible to describe to people who weren’t there.

A documentary called “Live PD” on the A&E Network aims to show many of those situations on live television — and the program just captured an intense and dramatic chase that officers were definitely not expecting.

The video shows a vehicle trying to run from the cops at incredible speeds, but it’s what happened after the car crashed that is getting attention.

Instead of surrendering to police, a suspect ran from police and fought a deputy… all while using his 2-year-old child as a human shield.

According to The State newspaper in South Carolina, the incident took place in Richland County, which includes the large city of Columbia.

The altercation begins at 2:35 in the video below:

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“Deputy Chris Mastrianni is seen pursuing a small SUV down Monticello Road and onto North Main Street, telling dispatch that the chase is reaching speeds of 75 and then 90 mph as the cars whiz past Interstate 20 and onto North Main Street,” recounted the newspaper.

That driver was suspected of being involved in a shooting which had just occurred nearby.

The suspect reportedly climbed out of the wrecked car holding his young daughter. Shockingly, the driver then held the toddler and even used her to help him fight against responding officers.

“The barefoot man struggles with Mastrianni. While holding and, at times, slinging the toddler around, he fights with Mastrianni, who repeatedly yells, ‘That’s your baby!’ and ‘Let go of the baby!’,” reported The State.

That incident could have ended tragically. Thankfully, Deputy Mastrianni was able to wrestle the suspect to the ground without the child being harmed.

Mastrianni and other officers indicated that they had no idea there was a toddler in the car during the initial pursuit.

Viewers used Twitter and other social media platforms to react to the stunning event.

“Gotta say what you did in that situation with that child was amazing and brave. You are a true hero,” one person tweeted to Deputy Mastrianni, echoing the feelings of many.

@MastrianniChris gotta say what you did in that situation with that child was amazing and brave. You are a true hero.#LivePD

Even the host of the television program was shocked by the incident captured on camera. “I’ve done a lot of live television but tonights #livepd was definitely one of the most emotionally draining. Ever,” wrote NBC News and A&E journalist Dan Abrams.